SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Board chairwoman hopes to name sheriff quickly

San Bernardino Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Josie Gonzales said she plans to ask her fellow supervisors to act quickly to fill the position vacated by retiring Sheriff Rod Hoops.

She said she hopes to have a discussion at the board’s next meeting on Nov. 27 to determine what process the board will follow, so the position is filled before he leaves at the end of the year.

“A department of this importance cannot be left with an unfilled spot as big as the sheriff’s job is,” Gonzales said last week. “We have to move quickly. That’s what the department deserves and that’s what we plan to do.”

Hoops announced that he will retire after 34 years with the department and four years as sheriff. He has accepted a position as an executive fellow at the Police Foundation, a Washington, D.C., think tank specializing in law-enforcement issues.

The position of sheriff is elected, but under the county charter the Board of Supervisors must name a successor to fill a vacancy.

Under state law, the county must have a sheriff at all times, so the appointment must be made before Hoops’ last day on Dec. 30, the sheriff said.

Hoops has recommended Assistant Sheriff John McMahon, who oversees operations for the department, as his replacement.

“He comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the organization,” Hoops said.

But two other hopefuls for the county’s top law enforcement job have raised criticisms about the county process.

Keith Bushey, a former deputy chief with the department, questioned whether an agreement had already been brokered “with the board to ensure the appointment of John McMahon as his replacement.”

He noted that the board followed the recommendation of former Sheriff Gary Penrod to appoint Hoops when Penrod retired in 2008.

Bushey asked that the board look at others candidates – such as himself – this time.

Supporters of Paul Schrader, a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy who lives in Rancho Cucamonga, have lobbied for his appointment. Schrader was one of two candidates who ran against Hoops in the 2010 election but placed a distant second.

Gonzales said no decision has been made on the process. She said it’s important that whoever is appointed have the trust of the department and be knowledgeable about its issues.

Gonzales said she plans to ask the board on Nov. 27 to consider a charter amendment that would allow for special elections for future vacancies of county offices. She said it would remove the doubt and controversy that sometimes surrounds board appointments.

“We can make sure when an elected (official) decides to retire or become incapacitated, whatever the case may be, we need to go an election and allow the people to vote,” Gonzales said.